Daily Devotions
How to Regain Trust in Broken Relationships
Reading for January 10th: Genesis 30-31
And Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done, that you have tricked me and driven away my daughters like captives of the sword? Why did you flee secretly and trick me, and did not tell me, so that I might have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre?"
Genesis 31:26-27
The relationship with Jacob and his father-in-law was a difficult one. It was built on a foundation of lies and manipulation. Jacob's sneaky and shameful departure from Laban was the culmination of a twenty year tug-of-war between two selfish men.
Unfortunately, the relationship between Jacob and his father-in-law is not uncommon. You may be struggling with a family member right now in much the same way Jacob struggled with Laban. You may be unable to communicate because of a lack of trust. You may be avoiding this family member. You might even be planning your own "escape plan" as Jacob did.
What can you do if this describes your family situation?
1. Confess wrong and ask for forgiveness (Mt 5:21-26). Restoring trust begins with honestly owning up to wrong and seeking reconciliation.
2. Make truth a priority (Eph 4:25). There must be a commitment to be completely honest about everything, even when it is costly.
3. Speak only words of kindness (Eph 4:29). Resolve to say only positive things. This means we must put an end to all gossip!
4. Seek to show kindness and forgiveness (Eph 4:32). Ultimately, Jacob and Laban only saw each other as means to an end. They merely wanted what they could get out of each other. Healthy relationships are built on love and selflessness. Successful relationships are built when we think in terms of what we can give, not what we can receive.
Father God, heal the broken and hurting families reading this devotion today. Help us to all imitate Christ and his selflessness.
